Cotton-chopper.



H. M. VINSON. COTTON SHOPPER.

APPLIOATI'ON FILED MAY 21. 190e.

'patented Apr. 2o, 1909.

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l'l'ozumja .HENRY M. Vinson, lor CORNISH, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application sied May 21, 190s.

Patented April 2o, 1909. semi No. 434,115.

To all whom it may concern: Y Y

Be it known that I, `HENRY M. Vr-NsoN, a

l citizen of the United States, residing at Cornish, in thecounty of Jefferson and State of useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cotton choppers and has for its object the production of a simple and effective device of this kind for chopping or thinning the growing cotton plants.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is aside elevation of a cotton cho per embodying my improvements, wit 1 parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and Fig. 3 is an end View.

In the embodiment illustrated, the axle 1 which is supported by the usual supporting Wheels 2 is bent at its middle portion to form an arch 4 to which is connected the tongue 5.

The numeral indicates the cultivator beams which are fastened to the end portions 7 of the larch by the fastening plates 7. The frontend of each of said beams is provided with a longitudinally spaced series of laterally extending apertures 8 to either of which is connected by bolts and nuts or other equivalent means the upper ends of hangers 9 provided each with a .vertically spaced series of apertures 10. Either of the apertures of the respective hangers are adapted to receive one end of a transversely extending chopper disk supporting axle 11, the central portion 12 of which extends rearwardly and is of approximately V-shaped form.

The numeral 13 indicates the chopper disk which is revolubly mounted at one side of the apex of the central portion ofthe axle and by reason of this fact extends across the rows of cotton plants at an angle, said disk being provided With aV peripheral series of spaced notches or recesses 14 designed to leave standing cert ain of the growing plants,while the p ortions of the disk which are not notched or recessed, as at 15, are intended to crush down the plants intervening between those left standing by the notches. This disk is of convex concavo form in order to dispose its eriphery at an angle so that it will out into't el ground at an angle and thereby out the weeds, cotton plants, and other debris therefrom with greater facility. When ,more than the usual Okla O h t d t d amount of grass and weeds are present, the

i ma, ave inven e cer am new an rightl hand lend of the axle is inserted in the upper aperture ofthe adjacent hanger 9, in orderto dispose the cho ping disk in a leaning or angularposition whidh materially increases the effect of its cutting action and enables the Weeds, grassV or the like to be removed with greater facility. By Vemploying an axle of the construction shown, it is evident that the disk will be allowed to ride or pass over any stumps, obstructions or the like without raising the ends of the axle. It is also evident that by vemploying the construction of hangers shown, the axle may be adjusted at different heights and in this way the cotton chopper disk may accommodate itself to the ground, Whether the cotton is planted in a furrow or on a ridge. It is equally evident that by roviding series of apertures in the front en s of the cultivator beams that the chopper disk supporting axle is susceptible of various longitudinal adjustments with respect to the cultivator.

In carrying out the invention, a vertically disposed pressure spring 16 is arranged between the apex of the cotton chop er supporting axle and a cross piece 1.7 which extends between the side pieces 18 of the arch 4, said spring serving to resist elevation of said axle. An operating chain 19 is also connected with the apex of said axle and extends longitudinally through the pressure spring 16 and cross piece 17 and is connected at its upper end wit. one arm of a bell crank lever 20 mounted upon the tongue 5. The lower end of said pressure chain is connected with the axle in order to allow the spring to expand to only a predetermined extent and the chopper disk to cut into the ground to the desired depth.

In practice,

the apex there and constitutes a bearing for the hub of the chopper disk, said hub being preferably formed by hub sections 22 prov1ded with flanges 23 which are bolted to opposite faces of the disk.

From the fore oing description, taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended ex lanation.

a sleeve 21 is fitted upon the 'I chopper disk supporting axle 1 on one side of f Various changes in the orm proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention, as deiined in the appended claim.

Havingtlius described my invention, what l claim as new is In a device ofthe class described, the conlbination With a su porting frame of cultivat'orfbeams fastene thereto, aone-pieee-supn porting axle mounted beneath the'front ends of @the beams, said Aaxlehaving a rearwardly eXtendng'V-shaped lcentral portion, a spring to resist .elevation of the central `portion of 15 said axle, and manually operated means for raising the central portion of the axle against said spring, said means comprising a flexible element extending through the eolls .of saidspring and attached to said axle, and .an operatlng lever pivotally mounted upon HENRY M. VINSON.

/Vitnesses:

W. C. HOGAN, D. F. SPR-ADLING. 

